Kohli rages, Smith completes captain's ton

The showdown between skippers Steve Smith and Virat Kohli was billed as the battle that will all but decide Australia's bid for a boilover in India.

It's far too early to suggest Australia will record the nation's second Test series win in India since 1970, but Smith's century in Pune helped them record the nation's first Test win in India since 2004.

Smith posted his 10th - and arguably most important - Test ton as captain of Australia on day three of the absorbing contest.

Former Australian captain Michael Clarke regarded it as "as good a Test hundred" as any of the 18 that Smith has celebrated.

Smith agreed.

"It's got to be right up there," he said.

"It took a lot of grit ... it was great to get such a big lead and give our bowlers plenty to bowl at."